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The robots push the door of the house

Kit to assemble themselves or humanoid capable of recognizing faces, a new generation of robots happens, more and more domesticated. They walk, talk, recognize faces and become more sociable. Gone is the dream of science fiction: the robots have become reality and begin to integrate our daily lives. In factories, they perform technical tasks and at home, they want to keep us company or help us with household chores. Even if not all aspects of humanoids Hollywood. “The robot is in a situation comparable to that of early computers,” said Jerome Damelincourt, store manager Rob polis specializes in robotics. We have no idea yet what it will be in twenty years when the first computers arrived, it was not invented Word or Excel, or video games, much less the Internet. The role will have the robot in a few years remains a mystery. One can imagine that help children do their homework, we will replace it for the work boring, or that fits in everyday objects such as television or appliances. For now, we are at the stage where knowledge grow and multiply experiences. ” Already, several trends are emerging. The robots toys have been a real success in recent years with products like the Rob raptor or Robosapien. But for the fans, these products are limited because they can be programmed in detail. Hence the interest of educational robots, which are aimed at an audience of insiders or are destined for schools and associations. “These products allow students and enthusiasts out immediately the result of their programs, says Jerome Damelincourt. It is no longer a theory: the work is carried out immediately by the action of the robot which is working mechanics, electricity, computers and electronics. It can progress using the same product, which is very motivating for students and teachers. ” For children followers of Lego and Mecca no, there is a programmable robot kit, to assemble itself. Between vehicles or insects to 20 euro robots and humanoids as sophisticated Bioloid (from 900 euro) who dances and makes pumps, the choice also involves the construction of boxes Fischer-Technique, which can assemble several objects, for about 300 euro. “It’s happening here at toy educational game that uses creativity while remaining playful notes Jerome Damelincourt. These robots are programmed easily via a PC software based on graphical elements: it is enough to dispose of cases action to drive the robot, to move, turn or recognize a journey. ” In addition to these educational robots, household robots are multiplying. Bioloid (from 299 euro) acts as an autonomous vacuum cleaner and fits smoothly under the seats. It even comes in a version called Scooba, capable of washing floors and painted tiles. But the robots company remain the most spectacular. They mimic humans or animals, serve an appetizer and read stories to children or send messages via the Internet. Most come from Japan. It is true that the Japanese Ministry of Industry subsidizes companies that produce robots surveillance for the elderly. A model like Ifbot recognizes facial expressions of his interlocutor, reminds him to take his medication and alert a monitoring station if a person does not react, in transmitting the scene by his camera.Assistant elderly
Other products are first of all the technical achievement. As Bioloid, created by Honda in the late 1990. In a size of 1.30 m, disguised as an astronaut, it works in a natural way and may even change direction without interruption. He also knows dancing, running, climbing and descending stairs, recognize faces, respond to spoken instructions and detect movements. For Honda, this is the time to control the mechanical aspects and develop artificial intelligence needed to produce, ultimately, a robot that can serve as an assistant to the elderly or disabled people and carry out dangerous tasks. Meanwhile, NEC has developed the PaPeRo, a small robot funny about forty centimeters, which moves on wheels. It identifies its environment and recognizes the faces, responds to spoken instructions and may contain approximately 3 000 words and disseminate information from a Web site or the contents of an electronic message. The Korean laboratories also are activated in this area. The Higher Institute of Technology has developed humanoid Hubo whose face, a replica of that of Albert Einstein, can simulate different expressions. “The desire to give a human form to a machine is deeply linked to the animist culture of Asian countries, said Jerome Damelincourt. The Americans themselves are first to the utility aspect of robots in imagining vacuums or lawnmowers functional. “Even robots sentinels of Canadian Dr. Robot retain allure of technical product with their metal shelf mounted on roulette and their cameras as a spherical eyes. A French company wants to compete with the Asians in the field of humanoid robot. Aldebaran Robotics has indeed developed the Nao, a model autonomous and programmable 57 cm. Scheduled to be marketed next year, it will replace the dog Aibo from Sony, which is no longer manufactured, for RoboCup, the World Cup robotics. With its two speakers, four microphones, his video camera and its sensors, he knows how to move and avoid obstacles, get up if you fall, recognize faces and even go recharge alone. Its inventors imagine he can serve at home to read Web pages or messages, and even improviser gym teacher. More and more humanized, these models are equipped with sensors that allow them to identify individuals and to avoid the strike. Some security programs can take control to stop a dangerous action. Do they have to implement the three rules of robotics Asimov …